I will be doing Chaucer's Clerk's Tales; I appreciate Chaucer's crude sense of humor. The challenge of translating the different types of english is very intriguing to me and I think overall that this will be a great story for me to get to work on for the semester.
Check Point 2
Clerk’s Tale Summary:
The beginning the Clerk tells a story of a man named Walter. Walter was a lord, he was strong, young, full of honor, but he was a man who did not think about the future. The people of his society wanted him to be wedded. On the day of his wedding he chooses a bride. Her name is Griselda, she was a poor mans daughter. Walter told Griselda, that she must promise to obey his will and do so happily. They get married and they have a daughter. Walter puts Griselda to test, she must give away her daughter, Griselda does and does not object. A couple years later she has a son, and Walter tests her again and she must give away her son. Once again she complies and does not object. The final test that Walter puts Griselda up to was that she must leave him and let him marry another woman. She sadly agrees and helps the new bride get ready; whom she does not know is her daughter. After an endless amount of torture that Walter had brought on to Griselda he decides that she is loyal and has gone through enough tests to prove this. Walter tells Griselda that the bride is her daughter, and he was never going to actually marry her. And the boy is her son and that she has passed all the tests. And they live happily ever after.
Quotes:
Lines 351-354
“I seye this: be ye redy with good herte
To al my lust, and that I frely may,
As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
And nevere ye to grucche° it, nyght ne"
This quote is Walter telling Griselda that if they are to get married then she must comply with all his demands and obey him whether it pleases or displeases her.
Lines 484-487
"And namely, sith thy doghter was ybore
Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees.
But I desire as I have doon bifore
To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees."
This quote is when Griselda and Walter have a daughter and Griselda is going to find out that she must give away her daughter and live with her husband and be happy.
Lines 1065-1071
“This is thy doghter, which thou hast supposed
To be my wyf. That oother feithfully
Shal be myn heir, as I have ay supposed. ever
Thou bare° hym in thy body trewely. carried / truly
At Boloigne have I kept hem prively. secretly
Taak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye may you
That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye."
This quote is when Griselda finds out that Walter has been testing Griselda and that she still has her children and he is not going to marry another woman.
Annotated Bibliography
Florschuetz, Angela. "A Mooder He Hath, But Fader Hath He Noon:" Constructions Of Genealogy In The "Clerk's Tale" And The "Man Of Law's Tale." Chaucer Review 44.1 (2009): 25-60. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
Florschuetz goes into a discussion about how there is a debate between feminists and those who are religious. Those who are religious tend to agree with the Clerk’s tale. That Griselda was a woman who was respecting God. Feminists disagree with this and believe that Chaucer was showing Griselda as a weak woman, when in actuality she was very strong. There is a serious question of is there any female integrity. The worry about how Griselda is seen takes away the point of the story and I think that is a worry. Although it is important to see how Griselda is viewed, the point of the story was these people ensuring that their Lord was going to have someone take the throne when he was gone.
Lawson, Rich, “Changes in the Griselda Story: Chaucer's The Clerk's Tale” (2004), Web. Shadowed Realm: Medieval History Resources.
Lawson goes into details of how he believes that the story was changed from the original. Of course it is an easy theory to believe. Since stories were being passed at mouth and barely anyone had written anything down. Lawson cites Petrarch from “Letters” and says that Chaucer, “lead his readers to emulate the example of feminine constancy and to submit themselves to God with the same courage as did this woman to her husband”. It makes sense; around that time women were meant to appear weak and obedient. Woman now a day would never comply with what Griselda agreed with. Most women would never abandon their child for a man.
Mitchell, J. Allan. "Chaucer's Clerk's Tale And The Question Of Ethical Monstrosity." Studies In Philology 102.1 (2005): 1-26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
What I liked about Mitchell’s article was that he compared Chaucer’s Clerk’s Tale, to some of Chaucer’s other works. Mitchell explained how the Clerk’s Tale was more straightforward than other stories, like the Wife of Bath. It is easy to understand, and is not as dramatic. On the flipside, it is more complex when you look at the meaning behind certain actions. There are motives that determine the meaning of the story. It is more obscure to relate to the characters in this tale. Mitchell also goes into discussion on beliefs of whether this story is a parable or a parody. Several critics believe that it is a parable; Mitchell on the other hand believes it is a parody. I personally would have to agree with Mitchell. In my eyes it is humorous to believe that a woman would be so silly as to choose her marriage and loyalty over her own blood.
Checkpoint 3
Annotated Bibliographies 4-6: Geraldine Heng. Empire of Magic: Medieval Romance and the Politics of Cultural Fantasy. Columbia University Press, 2003. Page 217 Source From: Florschuetz, Angela. "A Mooder He Hath, But Fader Hath He Noon:" Constructions Of Genealogy In The "Clerk's Tale" And The "Man Of Law's Tale." Chaucer Review 44.1 (2009): 25-60. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. There is a particular paragraph that Heng writes, that is directly about Chaucer’s Clerk’s tale. In particular, it goes into how after all the horrible tests that Walter has put Griselda through and has taken away the experience her children’s childhood, as well as having her believe they are dead, she is finally put out of her misery. But we already knew this from reading the story. Which is why Heng says look beyond that and see what Chaucer has really done. There is a saintly woman, Griselda, who is desired by a male ruler, Walter. “A woman who is again empty of all desire of her own but for a maternal love she involuntarily betrays, as it were, against her will, and that derives from her successful reproductive sexuality”. (Heng, 217) Power, men constantly had power over woman. It was clear that Walter “wore the pants” in this marriage. It makes sense that Walter chose a low class woman to marry. What would Griselda have to lose? At the time she probably wasn’t thinking her own children. But, Griselda was not from a high power family that could take control over Walter, so we see a man with all the power over this poor woman who had to be tortured to prove her love. Campbell, Emma. "Sexual Poetics And The Politics Of Translation In The Tale Of Griselda." Comparative Literature 55.3 (2003): 191-216. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Nov. 2014. Campbell talks about how in modern times The Clerk’s Tale is looked at by feminists and non-feminists and there is always a similarity Griselda’s behavior. There is a power between the relationship of man and woman. What is interesting in this article is that Campbell describes Griselda of going back and forth between feminine roles. It is brought up that some would see Griselda as an “exemplary figure”. Others, including myself, would highly disagree with this statement. Griselda is seen as a role model that women from this time are supposed to follow. Being completely loyal and sacrificing. But I disagree completely with that and agree with Emma Campbell. Walter over uses his power on his wife, punishing Griselda when there was no need. I agree with Campbell when she says that Griselda was pushed to human limits. It seems odd that this is what women would admire. The fact that she did not become psychotic is really what we are admiring and it is sad. The power that a man could have over a woman is what makes me so skeptical of deeming her as an “exemplary figure”. An “exemplary figure” should have their own power and control over themselves. Finnegan, Robert Emmett. "`She Should Have Said No To Walter': Griselda's Promise In The Clerk's Tale." English Studies 75.4 (1994): 303. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Nov. 2014. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. Finnegan points out right off the bat that Griselda should have denied Walter’s proposal. And she should have denied it again when he said that she would have to get rid of her children. A fabulous point that Finnegan brought up was that Griselda was a Christian woman, but in actuality she is an “accomplice to homicide” as Finnegan so kindly put it. We know that the children did not die so there was no act of homicide. But at that moment Griselda does not know that her children are not going to be murdered. It is interesting that Griselda blesses the children before they are taken away in an act of holiness. Since the act she is committing is indeed not holy. Again we can relate this to power. Walter had so much power of Griselda that he made her act in a way that was not Christian.
Reflection: Most scholars have been concerned with the fact that Walter has too much power over Griselda. This is a man who makes a woman promise to do whatever he says in order to marry him. This is an issue brought up by many scholars, because it is not how women should be portrayed. They also make it known that it is a problem as a Christian woman of her time to go against her religion in certain ways. Griselda willingly gives up her children and at the time she believes they are going to be killed. Griselda blesses her babies before they are taking away, in an act to show that she is still Christian. Another concern that is raised by the scholars is that Griselda is viewed as an exemplary figure. This is an issue, because in actuality Griselda was tortured and gave up her children to die willingly. An exemplary figure is supposed to be a person that can be looked up to. Griselda is a character that would have let her own children get killed just to remain married to Walter. In what sense does this make Griselda an exemplary figure?
I think the approach these scholars are taking to this text is focusing mainly on Griselda to start. First, looking at the characteristics of how we see Griselda when she is first introduced. Then they took the facts of how Walter tortured Griselda and compared it to how women should be viewed during this time and how Christian women should act.
Query: The potential question that I have after reading the Clerk’s Tale is why did Walter continuously question Griselda’s loyalty and dedication to him. Griselda willingly left her family to be with Walter. Then, Walter makes her give up her daughter to see her reaction and to see if Griselda was truly good on her word. Which Griselda was, but that was not enough for Walter. Walter then tortures Griselda again by taking away her second child! Which once again Griselda complies with giving up her child. You would think at this point that Walter would think that Griselda is a loyal woman. But no, Walter tests Griselda yet again. This time Walter tells Griselda that he is going to marry someone else and that she must get the house ready and leave. Why does it take so much for Walter to see Griselda’s loyalty to him?
I also liked the argument brought up in Finnegan’s “She Should Have Said No To Walter”. He made me realize the religion aspect. Griselda did not act like a typical Christian, which I would not have realized if I didn’t read Finnegan’s article. I don’t think believe there was anything confusing in the story everything is really self-explanatory. The events that happened were very understanding, and I think they had to be in this time because not a lot of people knew how to read.
Checkpoint 4:
Abstract:
Griselda is a woman who does not come from riches, in. Walter was a man who was handsome, heroic, and needed to find a woman to be with. Griselda was that woman, of course there is a catch, because in what love story is there not a catch. The catch was that Griselda must vow herself to Walter. Do whatever he wants and she must oblige. Griselda is a Christian woman, which is important to include in this, because this is what makes the entire story questionable. This is a woman who has certain values and grew up with these values and she agrees to put that life behind her. As a Christian, she was already going against her values. Just because Griselda was starting a new part of her life does not mean her past instantly disappears. Well it seemed like Griselda forgot about her values when she gave up her first child. And then again when she gave up the second one. Griselda gave up the value of love for her children in order to remain obedient to her husband. Not only does she give away her children, but when her husband breaks their own vow she still remains obedient. Griselda makes the bed for the next woman who is going to be coming in. What is interesting in this part of the story is that she seems to be forgiving so she does have some of those Christian values, but it seems like that only came back when she was going to be going back to her old life. While she is with Walter she has very little Christian values, but the minute he tells her that he does not want her anymore she goes back to who she truly is. It is not worth it to go against your Christian values and beliefs for a man who causes you pain and torture.
Annotated Bibliographies 7-9
Aers, David. "Faith, Ethics, And Community: Reflections On Reading Late Medieval English Writing." Journal Of Medieval & Early Modern Studies 28.2 (1998): 341. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Aers is discussing how a scholar wrote about how Chaucer is really exemplifying the demands of Christian faith. And how Chaucer shows that these demands are very extreme even for this time period. In the scholarly article Aers discusses, “She claims that faith makes Christians ‘transcend the political and moral context’ in which they live”. (Aers, 343) I think that this is an interesting point. We have a female character that is giving up her past and moral traditions to be with this man. Aers mentions something along the lines of Chaucer ‘s demonstration of morals is irrelevant to authentic Christian faith. I agree because what Chaucer wrote about disproved the authentic Christian faith.
Baker, Denise. “Chaucer and Moral Philosophy: The Virtuous Women of the Canterbury Tales.” Medium Aevum 60 (1992): 241-256.
Baker discusses how Chaucer purposely displays Griselda as a woman who goes against her religion and is obedient to her new husband. This is so the audience that Chaucer is writing for it more entertained. Chaucer was trying to attract those who were of the religion and were faithful. It is interesting for those to read what is happening if they were not obedient. I actually agree with Baker, because I have seen that in a lot of writings that we have read in class the stories are written to appeal to a certain audience. Well, there are a lot of different stories in the Canterbury Tales and it makes sense to have one portray those of religion.
Shutter’s goes into detail about how there are different views about how the Clerk’s Tale is read. I agree with this piece of her article, mostly because of the different ways to view Griselda. There is a religious view that shows that she was a bad Christian and went against her faith and never went back. There is a feminist view that presents Griselda as a heroic woman and that what she did was courageous and is how women should be. Then there is my view, which is trying to understand what would make a woman want to leave the life she had behind and start a new one with a man she does not know. And better yet why Griselda stays with a man who does not trust her. I agreed with this piece that Shutter’s wrote, because it shows that you can read something a hundred different times and still see it from a different point of view.
Shutter’s talks about in stories and legends we hear that women are devoted to their men. Shutter also says, “It is, however, not enough for a woman to say that she is completely devoted to her man”. (Shutter) I don’t think that Shutter realizes that this will always be true and is why I disagree with her. It is not enough for one person to simply say they are devoted to another. That is why we have marriage. To symbolize that connecting of two people for better or for worse. Of course in an ideal world all people, men and women, would be able to simply say I promise to only be yours. But people lie, cheat, and hurt. Trust is lost. Shutter continues to say that it is an act of suffering, but is it really suffering? For Griselda, well she chose that path and decided to vow to this man and give up everything for him. As we read in the story, Griselda willingly gave up both of her children, and was going to go back home when she heard news of her husband wedding another woman. I have to disagree with Shutter, because although Walter kept doing awful things to test Griselda’s vow it was still her decision to stay. Even if there were torturous moments for her, Griselda was not kept there against her will. Walter did not say to Griselda I will murder you if you choose this child over me. She willingly complied, so it is her who is just at fault.
Check Point 1
I will be doing Chaucer's Clerk's Tales; I appreciate Chaucer's crude sense of humor. The challenge of translating the different types of english is very intriguing to me and I think overall that this will be a great story for me to get to work on for the semester.
Check Point 2
Clerk’s Tale Summary:The beginning the Clerk tells a story of a man named Walter. Walter was a lord, he was strong, young, full of honor, but he was a man who did not think about the future. The people of his society wanted him to be wedded. On the day of his wedding he chooses a bride. Her name is Griselda, she was a poor mans daughter. Walter told Griselda, that she must promise to obey his will and do so happily. They get married and they have a daughter. Walter puts Griselda to test, she must give away her daughter, Griselda does and does not object. A couple years later she has a son, and Walter tests her again and she must give away her son. Once again she complies and does not object. The final test that Walter puts Griselda up to was that she must leave him and let him marry another woman. She sadly agrees and helps the new bride get ready; whom she does not know is her daughter. After an endless amount of torture that Walter had brought on to Griselda he decides that she is loyal and has gone through enough tests to prove this. Walter tells Griselda that the bride is her daughter, and he was never going to actually marry her. And the boy is her son and that she has passed all the tests. And they live happily ever after.
Quotes:
Lines 351-354
“I seye this: be ye redy with good herte
To al my lust, and that I frely may,
As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
And nevere ye to grucche° it, nyght ne"
This quote is Walter telling Griselda that if they are to get married then she must comply with all his demands and obey him whether it pleases or displeases her.
Lines 484-487
"And namely, sith thy doghter was ybore
Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees.
But I desire as I have doon bifore
To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees."
This quote is when Griselda and Walter have a daughter and Griselda is going to find out that she must give away her daughter and live with her husband and be happy.
Lines 1065-1071
“This is thy doghter, which thou hast supposed
To be my wyf. That oother feithfully
Shal be myn heir, as I have ay supposed. ever
Thou bare° hym in thy body trewely. carried / truly
At Boloigne have I kept hem prively. secretly
Taak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye may you
That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye."
This quote is when Griselda finds out that Walter has been testing Griselda and that she still has her children and he is not going to marry another woman.
Annotated Bibliography
Florschuetz, Angela. "A Mooder He Hath, But Fader Hath He Noon:" Constructions Of Genealogy In The "Clerk's Tale" And The "Man Of Law's Tale." Chaucer Review 44.1 (2009): 25-60. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
Florschuetz goes into a discussion about how there is a debate between feminists and those who are religious. Those who are religious tend to agree with the Clerk’s tale. That Griselda was a woman who was respecting God. Feminists disagree with this and believe that Chaucer was showing Griselda as a weak woman, when in actuality she was very strong. There is a serious question of is there any female integrity. The worry about how Griselda is seen takes away the point of the story and I think that is a worry. Although it is important to see how Griselda is viewed, the point of the story was these people ensuring that their Lord was going to have someone take the throne when he was gone.
Lawson, Rich, “Changes in the Griselda Story: Chaucer's The Clerk's Tale” (2004), Web. Shadowed Realm: Medieval History Resources.
Lawson goes into details of how he believes that the story was changed from the original. Of course it is an easy theory to believe. Since stories were being passed at mouth and barely anyone had written anything down. Lawson cites Petrarch from “Letters” and says that Chaucer, “lead his readers to emulate the example of feminine constancy and to submit themselves to God with the same courage as did this woman to her husband”. It makes sense; around that time women were meant to appear weak and obedient. Woman now a day would never comply with what Griselda agreed with. Most women would never abandon their child for a man.
Mitchell, J. Allan. "Chaucer's Clerk's Tale And The Question Of Ethical Monstrosity." Studies In Philology 102.1 (2005): 1-26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
What I liked about Mitchell’s article was that he compared Chaucer’s Clerk’s Tale, to some of Chaucer’s other works. Mitchell explained how the Clerk’s Tale was more straightforward than other stories, like the Wife of Bath. It is easy to understand, and is not as dramatic. On the flipside, it is more complex when you look at the meaning behind certain actions. There are motives that determine the meaning of the story. It is more obscure to relate to the characters in this tale. Mitchell also goes into discussion on beliefs of whether this story is a parable or a parody. Several critics believe that it is a parable; Mitchell on the other hand believes it is a parody. I personally would have to agree with Mitchell. In my eyes it is humorous to believe that a woman would be so silly as to choose her marriage and loyalty over her own blood.
Checkpoint 3
Annotated Bibliographies 4-6:
Geraldine Heng. Empire of Magic: Medieval Romance and the Politics of Cultural Fantasy. Columbia University Press, 2003. Page 217
Source From: Florschuetz, Angela. "A Mooder He Hath, But Fader Hath He Noon:" Constructions Of Genealogy In The "Clerk's Tale" And The "Man Of Law's Tale." Chaucer Review 44.1 (2009): 25-60. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
There is a particular paragraph that Heng writes, that is directly about Chaucer’s Clerk’s tale. In particular, it goes into how after all the horrible tests that Walter has put Griselda through and has taken away the experience her children’s childhood, as well as having her believe they are dead, she is finally put out of her misery. But we already knew this from reading the story. Which is why Heng says look beyond that and see what Chaucer has really done. There is a saintly woman, Griselda, who is desired by a male ruler, Walter. “A woman who is again empty of all desire of her own but for a maternal love she involuntarily betrays, as it were, against her will, and that derives from her successful reproductive sexuality”. (Heng, 217) Power, men constantly had power over woman. It was clear that Walter “wore the pants” in this marriage. It makes sense that Walter chose a low class woman to marry. What would Griselda have to lose? At the time she probably wasn’t thinking her own children. But, Griselda was not from a high power family that could take control over Walter, so we see a man with all the power over this poor woman who had to be tortured to prove her love.
Campbell, Emma. "Sexual Poetics And The Politics Of Translation In The Tale Of Griselda." Comparative Literature 55.3 (2003): 191-216. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
Campbell talks about how in modern times The Clerk’s Tale is looked at by feminists and non-feminists and there is always a similarity Griselda’s behavior. There is a power between the relationship of man and woman. What is interesting in this article is that Campbell describes Griselda of going back and forth between feminine roles. It is brought up that some would see Griselda as an “exemplary figure”. Others, including myself, would highly disagree with this statement. Griselda is seen as a role model that women from this time are supposed to follow. Being completely loyal and sacrificing. But I disagree completely with that and agree with Emma Campbell. Walter over uses his power on his wife, punishing Griselda when there was no need. I agree with Campbell when she says that Griselda was pushed to human limits. It seems odd that this is what women would admire. The fact that she did not become psychotic is really what we are admiring and it is sad. The power that a man could have over a woman is what makes me so skeptical of deeming her as an “exemplary figure”. An “exemplary figure” should have their own power and control over themselves.
Finnegan, Robert Emmett. "`She Should Have Said No To Walter': Griselda's Promise In The Clerk's Tale." English Studies 75.4 (1994): 303. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. Finnegan points out right off the bat that Griselda should have denied Walter’s proposal. And she should have denied it again when he said that she would have to get rid of her children. A fabulous point that Finnegan brought up was that Griselda was a Christian woman, but in actuality she is an “accomplice to homicide” as Finnegan so kindly put it. We know that the children did not die so there was no act of homicide. But at that moment Griselda does not know that her children are not going to be murdered. It is interesting that Griselda blesses the children before they are taken away in an act of holiness. Since the act she is committing is indeed not holy. Again we can relate this to power. Walter had so much power of Griselda that he made her act in a way that was not Christian.
Reflection:
Most scholars have been concerned with the fact that Walter has too much power over Griselda. This is a man who makes a woman promise to do whatever he says in order to marry him. This is an issue brought up by many scholars, because it is not how women should be portrayed. They also make it known that it is a problem as a Christian woman of her time to go against her religion in certain ways. Griselda willingly gives up her children and at the time she believes they are going to be killed. Griselda blesses her babies before they are taking away, in an act to show that she is still Christian. Another concern that is raised by the scholars is that Griselda is viewed as an exemplary figure. This is an issue, because in actuality Griselda was tortured and gave up her children to die willingly. An exemplary figure is supposed to be a person that can be looked up to. Griselda is a character that would have let her own children get killed just to remain married to Walter. In what sense does this make Griselda an exemplary figure?
I think the approach these scholars are taking to this text is focusing mainly on Griselda to start. First, looking at the characteristics of how we see Griselda when she is first introduced. Then they took the facts of how Walter tortured Griselda and compared it to how women should be viewed during this time and how Christian women should act.
Query:
The potential question that I have after reading the Clerk’s Tale is why did Walter continuously question Griselda’s loyalty and dedication to him. Griselda willingly left her family to be with Walter. Then, Walter makes her give up her daughter to see her reaction and to see if Griselda was truly good on her word. Which Griselda was, but that was not enough for Walter. Walter then tortures Griselda again by taking away her second child! Which once again Griselda complies with giving up her child. You would think at this point that Walter would think that Griselda is a loyal woman. But no, Walter tests Griselda yet again. This time Walter tells Griselda that he is going to marry someone else and that she must get the house ready and leave. Why does it take so much for Walter to see Griselda’s loyalty to him?
I also liked the argument brought up in Finnegan’s “She Should Have Said No To Walter”. He made me realize the religion aspect. Griselda did not act like a typical Christian, which I would not have realized if I didn’t read Finnegan’s article. I don’t think believe there was anything confusing in the story everything is really self-explanatory. The events that happened were very understanding, and I think they had to be in this time because not a lot of people knew how to read.
Checkpoint 4:
Abstract:
Griselda is a woman who does not come from riches, in. Walter was a man who was handsome, heroic, and needed to find a woman to be with. Griselda was that woman, of course there is a catch, because in what love story is there not a catch. The catch was that Griselda must vow herself to Walter. Do whatever he wants and she must oblige. Griselda is a Christian woman, which is important to include in this, because this is what makes the entire story questionable. This is a woman who has certain values and grew up with these values and she agrees to put that life behind her. As a Christian, she was already going against her values. Just because Griselda was starting a new part of her life does not mean her past instantly disappears. Well it seemed like Griselda forgot about her values when she gave up her first child. And then again when she gave up the second one. Griselda gave up the value of love for her children in order to remain obedient to her husband. Not only does she give away her children, but when her husband breaks their own vow she still remains obedient. Griselda makes the bed for the next woman who is going to be coming in. What is interesting in this part of the story is that she seems to be forgiving so she does have some of those Christian values, but it seems like that only came back when she was going to be going back to her old life. While she is with Walter she has very little Christian values, but the minute he tells her that he does not want her anymore she goes back to who she truly is. It is not worth it to go against your Christian values and beliefs for a man who causes you pain and torture.Annotated Bibliographies 7-9
Aers, David. "Faith, Ethics, And Community: Reflections On Reading Late Medieval English Writing." Journal Of Medieval & Early Modern Studies 28.2 (1998): 341. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Aers is discussing how a scholar wrote about how Chaucer is really exemplifying the demands of Christian faith. And how Chaucer shows that these demands are very extreme even for this time period. In the scholarly article Aers discusses, “She claims that faith makes Christians ‘transcend the political and moral context’ in which they live”. (Aers, 343) I think that this is an interesting point. We have a female character that is giving up her past and moral traditions to be with this man. Aers mentions something along the lines of Chaucer ‘s demonstration of morals is irrelevant to authentic Christian faith. I agree because what Chaucer wrote about disproved the authentic Christian faith.Baker, Denise. “Chaucer and Moral Philosophy: The Virtuous Women of the Canterbury Tales.” Medium Aevum 60 (1992): 241-256.
Baker discusses how Chaucer purposely displays Griselda as a woman who goes against her religion and is obedient to her new husband. This is so the audience that Chaucer is writing for it more entertained. Chaucer was trying to attract those who were of the religion and were faithful. It is interesting for those to read what is happening if they were not obedient. I actually agree with Baker, because I have seen that in a lot of writings that we have read in class the stories are written to appeal to a certain audience. Well, there are a lot of different stories in the Canterbury Tales and it makes sense to have one portray those of religion.Shutters, Lynn. "Griselda's Pagan View." Internet Archive. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
Shutter’s goes into detail about how there are different views about how the Clerk’s Tale is read. I agree with this piece of her article, mostly because of the different ways to view Griselda. There is a religious view that shows that she was a bad Christian and went against her faith and never went back. There is a feminist view that presents Griselda as a heroic woman and that what she did was courageous and is how women should be. Then there is my view, which is trying to understand what would make a woman want to leave the life she had behind and start a new one with a man she does not know. And better yet why Griselda stays with a man who does not trust her. I agreed with this piece that Shutter’s wrote, because it shows that you can read something a hundred different times and still see it from a different point of view.Scholarly Article:
Shutters, Lynn. "Griselda's Pagan View." Internet Archive. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
Shutter’s talks about in stories and legends we hear that women are devoted to their men. Shutter also says, “It is, however, not enough for a woman to say that she is completely devoted to her man”. (Shutter) I don’t think that Shutter realizes that this will always be true and is why I disagree with her. It is not enough for one person to simply say they are devoted to another. That is why we have marriage. To symbolize that connecting of two people for better or for worse. Of course in an ideal world all people, men and women, would be able to simply say I promise to only be yours. But people lie, cheat, and hurt. Trust is lost. Shutter continues to say that it is an act of suffering, but is it really suffering? For Griselda, well she chose that path and decided to vow to this man and give up everything for him. As we read in the story, Griselda willingly gave up both of her children, and was going to go back home when she heard news of her husband wedding another woman. I have to disagree with Shutter, because although Walter kept doing awful things to test Griselda’s vow it was still her decision to stay. Even if there were torturous moments for her, Griselda was not kept there against her will. Walter did not say to Griselda I will murder you if you choose this child over me. She willingly complied, so it is her who is just at fault.